PART I
Conceptual framework 1
1 Background 3
Introduction 3
Risk appraisal in high-technology ventures 5
The UK venture capital market 7
The policy context 8
Research methodology 9
Outline of this book 14
Conclusion 16
2 Risk and uncertainty 18
Introduction 18
Qualitative and quantitative uncertainty 19
Agency, innovation and business risk 22
Uncertainty and risk assessment 27
Risk and uncertainty in high-technology ventures 29
Intellectual property 32
Conclusion 33
PART II
Sampling and evidence 35
3 Sampling, fieldwork and instrumentation 37
Introduction 37
Unstructured preliminary fieldwork 38
Samples of investors and entrepreneurs 40
Instrumentation design 43
Exploring the interview agenda 44
Interviewing in the field 47
Database construction 48
Analysis of database 49
Conclusion 50
4 Venture capitalists’ and entrepreneurs’ conduct 52
Introduction 52
Assessing risk 53
Attitudes to risk 53
Factors in risk appraisal 56
Features of innovation risk 59
Non-financial factors 61
Conclusion 63
PART III
Statistical analysis 65
5 Investor and entrepreneur: statistical analysis 67
Introduction 67
Attitudes to risk 67
Statistical analysis 69
Concordance of investors’ and entrepreneurs’ opinion: an
alternative approach 71
Factors in risk appraisal 72
Conclusion 78
6 Risk appraisal by investors 79
Introduction 79
General statistical analysis 80
Detailed statistical analysis 87
Conclusion 94